Support assembly with retainer

Abstract

A support assembly is provided that includes a plurality of inelastic, flexible cables that are joined together by a plurality of spaced apart securement members in order to form a wedging elongated eye. An end assembly of the support assembly passes through the elongated eye in one direction, after which a retaining member thereof is moved from a longitudinal, feedable orientation to a transverse, locking orientation. An especially secure engagement is provided. The support assembly is especially suitable as a safety cable for a bulkhead assembly.

We claim: 
     
       1. A bulkhead assembly comprising: a bulkhead door suspended from an overhead traveling beam through a bracket assembly; and   a safety cable generally encircling a component of the bulkhead door and a component of the overhead traveling beam, wherein said safety cable includes:   a plurality of elongated cables;   a plurality of securement members spaced along and rigidly attached to said cables;   a stiff, elongated eye formed from the combination of said cables and said spaced apart securement members;   said cables being sufficiently resilient such that said elongated eye will expand and move back in a direction generally transverse to the length of the support assembly, said cables of the elongated eye being biased toward a generally closed orientation to provide wedging means for receiving an end assembly of the support assembly;   said end assembly including a rigid one-way member securely attached onto a length of at least one of said cables, said end assembly further including retainer means for controlling passage of said one-way member through said elongated eye;   said retainer means being slidably mounted on said cable length, said retainer means being slidable along said cable length up until it engages said rigid one-way member and not therebeyond;   said retaining means having a generally longitudinal orientation with respect to said cable length for allowing passage thereof through said elongated eye, and said retaining means having a generally transverse orientation with respect to said cable length for preventing passage thereof and of said one-way member through said elongated eye; and   said retaining means including an aperture having a size smaller than a trailing end of said one-way member so that said one-way member cannot pass through said aperture of the retaining means.   
     
     
       2. A support assembly comprising: a plurality of elongated cables;   a plurality of securement members spaced along and rigidly attached to said cables;   a stiff, elongated eye formed from the combination of said cables and said spaced apart securement members;   said cables being sufficiently resilient such that said elongated eye will expand and move back in a direction generally transverse to the length of the support assembly, said cables of the elongated eye being biased toward a generally closed orientation to provide wedging means for receiving an end assembly of the support assembly;   said end assembly including a rigid one-way member securely attached onto a length of at least one of said cables, said end assembly further including retainer means for controlling passage of said one-way member through said elongated eye;   said retainer means being slidably mounted on said cable length, said retainer means being slidable along said cable length up until it engages said rigid one-way member and not therebeyond;   said retaining means having a generally longitudinal orientation with respect to said cable length for allowing passage thereof through said elongated eye, and said retaining means having a generally transverse orientation with respect to said cable length for preventing passage thereof and of said one-way member through said elongated eye; and   wherein said one-way member has a trailing end that securely engages one face of said retaining means when said retaining means is in its generally transverse orientation, and the retaining means has an opposing face which engages a surface of said elongated eye when said retaining means is in its generally transverse orientation.   
     
     
       3. A support assembly comprising: a plurality of elongated cables;   a plurality of securement members spaced along and rigidly attached to said cables;   a stiff, elongated eye formed from the combination of said cables and said spaced apart securement members;   said cables being sufficiently resilient such that said elongated eye will expand and move back in a direction generally transverse to the length of the support assembly, said cables of the elongated eye being biased toward a generally closed orientation to provide wedging means for receiving an end assembly of the support assembly;   said end assembly including a rigid one-way member securely attached onto a length of at least one of said cables, said end assembly further including retainer means for controlling passage of said one-way member through said elongated eye;   said retainer means being slidably mounted on said cable length, said retainer means being slidable along said cable length up until it engages said rigid one-way member and not therebeyond;   said retaining means having a generally longitudinal orientation with respect to said cable length for allowing passage thereof through said elongated eye, and said retaining means having a generally transverse orientation with respect to said cable length for preventing passage thereof and of said one-way member through said elongated eye; and   wherein a leading edge of said retaining means wedgingly engages said elongated eye when said retaining means is in its generally longitudinal orientation in order to thereby facilitate opening of said elongated eye to permit passage of the retaining means therethrough in an assembly direction.   
     
     
       4. A support assembly comprising: a plurality of elongated cables;   a plurality of securement members spaced along and rigidly attached to said cables;   a stiff, elongated eye formed from the combination of said cables and said spaced apart securement members;   said cables being sufficiently resilient such that said elongated eye will expand and move back in a direction generally transverse to the length of the support assembly, said cables of the elongated eye being biased toward a generally closed orientation to provide wedging means for receiving an end assembly of the support assembly;   said end assembly including a rigid one-way member securely attached onto a length of at least one of said cables, said end assembly further including retainer means for controlling passage of said one-way member through said elongated eye;   said retainer means being slidably mounted on said cable length, said retainer means being slidable along said cable length up until it engages said rigid one-way member and not therebeyond;   said retaining means having a generally longitudinal orientation with respect to said cable length for allowing passage thereof through said elongated eye, and said retaining means having a generally transverse orientation with respect to said cable length for preventing passage thereof and of said one-way member through said elongated eye; and   wherein a trailing edge of said retaining means wedgingly engages said elongated eye when said retaining means is in its generally longitudinal orientation in order to thereby facilitate opening of said elongated eye to permit passage of the retaining means therethrough and in order to permit passage of a blunt end of said one-way means through said elongated eye, whereby said end assembly can pass through said elongated eye in a retrograde direction that is opposite of the assembly direction.   
     
     
       5. A support assembly comprising: a plurality of elongated cables;   a plurality of securement members spaced along and rigidly attached to said cables;   a stiff, elongated eye formed from the combination of said cables and said spaced apart securement members;   said cables being sufficiently resilient such that said elongated eye will expand and move back in a direction generally transverse to the length of the support assembly, said cables of the elongated eye being biased toward a generally closed orientation to provide wedging means for receiving an end assembly of the support assembly;   said end assembly including a rigid one-way member securely attached onto a length of at least one of said cables, said end assembly further including retainer means for controlling passage of said one-way member through said elongated eye;   said retainer means being slidably mounted on said cable length, said retainer means being slidable along said cable length up until it engages said rigid one-way member and not therebeyond;   said retaining means having a generally longitudinal orientation with respect to said cable length for allowing passage thereof through said elongated eye, and said retaining means having a generally transverse orientation with respect to said cable length for preventing passage thereof and of said one-way member through said elongated eye; and   wherein said retaining means includes an aperture having a size smaller than a trailing end of said one-way member so that said one-way member cannot pass through said aperture of the retaining means.   
     
     
       6. The support assembly according to claim 5, wherein said retaining means has a generally stepped shape including two generally parallel surfaces, and wherein said aperture is an elongated slot extending between said parallel surfaces. 
     
     
       7. A support assembly comprising; a plurality of elongated cables;   a plurality of securement members spaced along and rigidly attached to said cables;   a stiff, elongated eye formed from the combination of said cables and said spaced apart securement members;   said cables being sufficiently resilient such that said elongated eye will expand and move back in a direction generally transverse to the length of the support assembly, said cables of the elongated eye being biased toward a generally closed orientation to provide wedging means for receiving an end assembly of the support assembly;   said end assembly including a rigid one-way member securely attached onto a length of at least one of said cables, said end assembly further including retainer means for controlling passage of said one-way member through said elongated eye;   said retainer means being slidably mounted on said cable length, said retainer means being slidable along said cable length up until it engages said rigid one-way member and not therebeyond;   said retaining means having a generally longitudinal orientation with respect to said cable length for allowing passage thereof through said elongated eye, and said retaining means having a generally transverse orientation with respect to said cable length for preventing passage thereof and of said one-way member through said elongated eye; and   wherein said retaining means includes one surface, another surface generally parallel to said one surface, and a web joining said one surface to said another surface, and wherein an aperture is located in said joining web.   
     
     
       8. A support assembly comprising: a plurality of elongated cables;   a plurality of securement members spaced along and rigidly attached to said cables;   a stiff, elongated eye formed from the combination of said cables and said spaced apart securement members;   said cables being sufficiently resilient such that said elongated eye will expand and move back in a direction generally transverse to the length of the support assembly, said cables of the elongated eye being biased toward a generally closed orientation to provide wedging means for receiving an end assembly of the support assembly;   said end assembly including a rigid one-way member securely attached onto a length of at least one of said cables, said end assembly further including retainer means for controlling passage of said one-way member through said elongated eye;   said retainer means being slidably mounted on said cable length, said retainer means being slidable along said cable length up until it engages said rigid one-way member and not therebeyond;   said retaining means having a generally longitudinal orientation with respect to said cable length for allowing passage thereof through said elongated eye, and said retaining means having a generally transverse orientation with respect to said cable length for preventing passage thereof and of said one-way member through said elongated eye; and   wherein said retaining means includes one surface that, when said retaining means is in its said longitudinal orientation, lies along said cable length onto which it is slidably mounted.   
     
     
       9. The support assembly according to claim 8, wherein said retaining means includes another surface that, when said retaining means is in its said longitudinal orientation, lies along said cable length in a direction that is generally opposite of said one surface. 
     
     
       10. A support assembly comprising: a plurality of elongated cables;   a plurality of securement members spaced along and rigidly attached to said cables;   a stiff, elongated eye formed from the combination of said cables and said spaced apart securement members;   said cables being sufficiently resilient such that said elongated eye will expand and move back in a direction generally transverse to the length of the support assembly, said cables of the elongated eye being biased toward a generally closed orientation to provide wedging means for receiving an end assembly of the support assembly;   said end assembly including a rigid one-way member securely attached onto a length of at least one of said cables, said end assembly further including retainer means for controlling passage of said one-way member through said elongated eye;   said retainer means being slidably mounted on said cable length, said retainer means being slidable along said cable length up until it engages said rigid one-way member and not therebeyond;   said retaining means having a generally longitudinal orientation with respect to said cable length for allowing passage thereof through said elongated eye, and said retaining means having a generally transverse orientation with respect to said cable length for preventing passage thereof and of said one-way member through said elongated eye; and   wherein said retaining means includes one indented offset, another oppositely directed indented offset in general alignment with said one indented offset, and an aperture between said indented offsets.   
     
     
       11. A bulkhead assembly comprising: a bulkhead door suspended from an overhead traveling beam through a bracket assembly; and   a safety cable generally encircling a component of the bulkhead door and a component of the overhead traveling beam, wherein said safety cable includes:   a plurality of elongated cables;   a plurality of securement members spaced along and rigidly attached to said cables;   a stiff, elongated eye formed from the combination of said cables and said spaced apart securement members;   said cables being sufficiently resilient such that said elongated eye will expand and move back in a direction generally transverse to the length of the support assembly, said cables of the elongated eye being biased toward a generally closed orientation to provide wedging means for receiving an end assembly of the support assembly;   said end assembly including a rigid one-way member securely attached onto a length of at least one of said cables, said end assembly further including retainer means for controlling passage of said one-way member through said elongated eye;   said retainer means being slidably mounted on said cable length, said retainer means being slidable along said cable length up until it engages said rigid one-way member and not therebeyond;   said retaining means having a generally longitudinal orientation with respect to said cable length for allowing passage thereof through said elongated eye, and said retaining means having a generally transverse orientation with respect to said cable length for preventing passage thereof and of said one-way member through said elongated eye; and   said one-way member having a trailing end that securely engages one face of said retaining means when said retaining means is in its generally transverse orientation, and the retaining means having an opposing face which engages a surface of said elongated eye when said retaining means is in its generally transverse orientation.   
     
     
       12. An improved support assembly including a plurality of elongated cables; a plurality of securement members spaced along and rigidly attached to said cables; a stiff, elongated eye formed from the combination of said cables and said spaced apart securement members; said cables being sufficiently resilient such that said elongated eye will expand and move back in a direction generally transverse to the length of the support assembly, said cables of the elongated eye being biased toward a generally closed orientation to provide wedging means for receiving a rigid one-way member securely attached to a length of at least one of the cables, wherein the improvement comprises: an end assembly including the one-way member and retainer means for controlling passage of said one-way member through said elongated eye;   said retaining means being slidably mounted on said cable length, said retaining means being slidable along said cable length up until it engages said one-way member and not therebeyond;   said retaining means having a generally longitudinal orientation with respect to said cable length for allowing passage through said elongated eye, and said retaining means having a generally transverse orientation with respect to said cable length for preventing passage thereof and of said one-way member through said elongated eye; and   wherein said one-way member has a trailing end that securely engages one face of said retaining means when said retaining means is in its generally transverse orientation, and the retaining means has an opposing face which engages a surface of said elongated eye when said retaining means is in its generally transverse orientation.   
     
     
       13. An improved support assembly including a plurality of elongated cables; a plurality of securement members spaced along and rigidly attached to said cables; a stiff, elongated eye formed from the combination of said cables and said spaced apart securement members; said cables being sufficiently resilient such that said elongated eye will expand and move back in a direction generally transverse to the length of the support assembly, said cables of the elongated eye being biased toward a generally closed orientation to provide wedging means for receiving a rigid one-way member securely attached to a length of at least one of the cables, wherein the improvement comprises: an end assembly including the one-way member and retainer means for controlling passage of said one-way member through said elongated eye;   said retaining means being slidably mounted on said cable length, said retaining means being slidable along said cable length up until it engages said one-way member and not therebeyond;   said retaining means having a generally longitudinal orientation with respect to said cable length for allowing passage through said elongated eye, and said retaining means having a generally transverse orientation with respect to said cable length for preventing passage thereof and of said one-way member through said elongated eye; and   wherein a leading edge of said retaining means wedgingly engages said elongated eye when said retaining means is in its generally longitudinal orientation in order to thereby facilitate opening of said elongated eye to permit passage of the retaining means therethrough in an assembly direction.   
     
     
       14. An improved support assembly including a plurality of elongated cables; a plurality of securement members spaced along and rigidly attached to said cables; a stiff, elongated eye formed from the combination of said cables and said spaced apart securement members; said cables being sufficiently resilient such that said elongated eye will expand and move back in a direction generally transverse to the length of the support assembly, said cables of the elongated eye being biased toward a generally closed orientation to provide wedging means for receiving a rigid one-way member securely attached to a length of at least one of the cables, wherein the improvement comprises: an end assembly including the one-way member and retainer means for controlling passage of said one-way member through said elongated eye;   said retaining means being slidably mounted on said cable length, said retaining means being slidable along said cable length up until it engages said one-way member and not therebeyond;   said retaining means having a generally longitudinal orientation with respect to said cable length for allowing passage through said elongated eye, and said retaining means having a generally transverse orientation with respect to said cable length for preventing passage thereof and of said one-way member through said elongated eye; and   wherein a trailing edge of said retaining means wedgingly engages said elongated eye when said retaining means is in its generally longitudinal orientation in order to thereby facilitate opening of said elongated eye to permit passage of the retaining means therethrough and in order to permit passage of a blunt end of said one-way means through said elongated eye, whereby said end assembly can pass through said elongated eye in a retrograde direction that is opposite of the assembly direction.   
     
     
       15. An improved support assembly including a plurality of elongated cables; a plurality of securement members spaced along and rigidly attached to said cables; a stiff, elongated eye formed from the combination of said cables and said spaced apart securement members; said cables being sufficiently resilient such that said elongated eye will expand and move back in a direction generally transverse to the length of the support assembly, said cables of the elongated eye being biased toward a generally closed orientation to provide wedging means for receiving a rigid one-way member securely attached to a length of at least one of the cables, wherein the improvement comprises: an end assembly including the one-way member and retainer means for controlling passage of said one-way member through said elongated eye;   said retaining means being slidably mounted on said cable length, said retaining means being slidable along said cable length up until it engages said one-way member and not therebeyond;   said retaining means having a generally longitudinal orientation with respect to said cable length for allowing passage through said elongated eye, and said retaining means having a generally transverse orientation with respect to said cable length for preventing passage thereof and of said one-way member through said elongated eye; and   wherein said retaining means includes one surface, another surface generally parallel to said one surface, and a web joining said one surface to said another surface, and wherein an aperture is located in said joining web.   
     
     
       16. An improved support assembly including a plurality of elongated cables; a plurality of securement members spaced along and rigidly attached to said cables; a stiff, elongated eye formed from the combination of said cables and said spaced apart securement members; said cables being sufficiently resilient such that said elongated eye will expand and move back in a direction generally transverse to the length of the support assembly, said cables of the elongated eye being biased toward a generally closed orientation to provide wedging means for receiving a rigid one-way member securely attached to a length of at least one of the cables, wherein the improvement comprises: an end assembly including the one-way member and retainer means for controlling passage of said one-way member through said elongated eye;   said retaining means being slidably mounted on said cable length, said retaining means being slidable along said cable length up until it engages said one-way member and not therebeyond;   said retaining means having a generally longitudinal orientation with respect to said cable length for allowing passage through said elongated eye, and said retaining means having a generally transverse orientation with respect to said cable length for preventing passage thereof and of said one-way member through said elongated eye; and   wherein said retaining means includes one indented offset, another oppositely directed indented offset in general alignment with said one indented offset, and an aperture between said indented offsets.   
     
     
       17. A safety cable for a bulkhead assembly including a bulkhead door suspended from an overhead traveling beam through a moveable bracket assembly, the safety cable being a support assembly that generally encircles a component of the bulkhead door and a component of the traveling beam, said support assembly comprising: a plurality of elongated cables;   a plurality of securement members spaced along and rigidly attached to said cables;   a stiff, elongated eye formed from the combination of said cables and said spaced apart securement members;   said cables being sufficiently resilient such that said elongated eye will expand and move back in a direction generally transverse to the length of the support assembly, said cables of the elongated eye being biased toward a generally closed orientation to provide wedging means for receiving an end assembly of the support assembly;   said end assembly including a rigid one-way member securely attached onto a length of at least one of said cables, said end assembly further including retainer means for controlling passage of said one-way member through said elongated eye;   said retainer means being slidable mounted on said cable length, said retainer means being slidable along said cable length up until it engages said rigid one-way member and not therebeyond;   said retaining means having a generally longitudinal orientation with respect to said cable length for allowing passage thereof through said elongated eye, and said retaining means having a generally transverse orientation with respect to said cable length for preventing passage thereof and of said one-way member through said elongated eye.   
     
     
       18. A safety cable for a bulkhead assembly including a bulkhead door slidably suspended from an overhead traveling beam through a bracket assembly, the safety cable being a support assembly that generally encircles a component of the bulkhead door and a component of the traveling beam, said support assembly comprising: a plurality of elongated cables;   a plurality of securement members spaced along and rigidly attached to said cables;   a stiff, elongated eye formed from the combination of said cables and said spaced apart securement members;   said cables being sufficiently resilient such that said elongated eye will expand and move back in a direction generally transverse to the length of the support assembly, said cables of the elongated eye being biased toward a generally closed orientation to provide wedging means for receiving an end assembly of the support assembly;   said end assembly including a rigid one-way member securely attached onto a length of at least one of said cables, said end assembly further including retainer means for controlling passage of said one-way member through said elongated eye;   said retainer means being slidably mounted on said cable length, said retainer means being slidable along said cable length up until it engages said rigid one-way member and not therebeyond;   said retaining means having a generally longitudinal orientation with respect to said cable length for allowing passage thereof through said elongated eye, and said retaining means having a generally transverse orientation with respect to said cable length for preventing passage thereof and of said one-way member through said elongated eye.   
     
     
       19. A safety cable for a bulkhead assembly including a bulkhead door pivotally suspended from an overhead traveling beam through a bracket assembly, the safety cable being a support assembly that generally encircles a component of the bulkhead door and a component of the traveling beam, said support assembly comprising: a plurality of elongated cables;   a plurality of securement members spaced along and rigidly attached to said cables;   a stiff, elongated eye formed from the combination of said cables and said spaced apart securement members;   said cables being sufficiently resilient such that said elongated eye will expand and move back in a direction generally transverse to the length of the support assembly, said cables of the elongated eye being biased toward a generally closed orientation to provide wedging means for receiving an end assembly of the support assembly;   said end assembly including a rigid one-way member securely attached onto a length of at least one of said cables, said end assembly further including retainer means for controlling passage of said one-way member through said elongated eye;   said retainer means being slidably mounted on said cable length, said retainer means being slidable along said cable length up until it engages said rigid one-way member and not therebeyond;   said retaining means having a generally longitudinal orientation with respect to said cable length for allowing passage thereof through said elongated eye, and said retaining means having a generally transverse orientation with respect to said cable length for preventing passage thereof and of said one-way member through said elongated eye.